Washing machine having detachable washing tub

ABSTRACT

A washing machine includes a washing tub rotatably received in a housing, and a rotating device for rotating the washing tub to conduct a laundry washing operation. The washing tub includes two or more posts secured to a rear plate, two or more wall members engaged between the posts for forming a cylindrical washing tub, and an annular cap secured to the posts for detachably securing the wall members to the rear plate and the posts, and for allowing the washing tub to be disassembled or disengaged from the washing machine for being changed with the new ones or for being fixed or repaired without discarding the whole washing machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a washing machine including a detachable washing tub which may be disassembled or disengaged from the washing machine and which may be changed with the new ones or which may be fixed or repaired without discarding the whole washing machine when only the washing tub is damaged.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical washing machines comprise a washing tub rotatably received and supported in an outer tub or housing, and a pulsator or agitator disposed in the washing tub and actuated or operated or coupled to a motor via a clutch and/or a coupling device, for pulsating the pulsator or agitator to form the water circulation and for carrying out the laundry washing operation.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,512 to Chang discloses one of the typical washing machines comprising a water circulation guide plate disposed in a washing tub and also coupled to a motor for being actuated or operated or rotated by the motor in order to conduct the laundry washing operation.

For preventing the laundry from being damaged or entered into the gap or slot defined between the water circulation guide plate and the washing tub, the water circulation guide plate should be firmly disposed and retained within the washing tub and should include an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the washing tub.

However, normally, the washing tub includes a solid structure or configuration for firmly confining and retaining the water circulation guide plate within the washing tub, such that the water circulation guide plate may not be disassembled or disengaged from the washing tub when the water circulation guide plate is damaged and required to be changed with the new ones or required to be fixed or repaired. Normally, the whole washing machine is required to be discarded when only the washing tub is damaged.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional washing machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a washing machine including a detachable washing tub which may be disassembled or disengaged from the washing machine and which may be changed with the new ones or which may be fixed or repaired without discarding the whole washing machine when only the washing tub is damaged.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising a housing, a washing tub rotatably received in the housing, and a rotating device for rotating the washing tub relative to the housing to conduct a laundry washing operation, and the washing tub includes a rear plate, at least two posts secured to the rear plate, at least two wall members engaged between the posts for forming a cylindrical configuration for the washing tub, and an annular cap secured to the posts and engaged with the wall members for detachably securing the wall members to the rear plate and the posts.

The posts each include a groove formed in each of two side portions thereof, and the wall members each include two side edges for engaging into the grooves of the posts.

The rotating device includes a motor attached to the housing, and having a spindle for securing to the washing tub. The motor includes a frame attached to the spindle for securing to the washing tub. The frame is preferably a cross-shaped securing frame.

A base may further be provided for supporting the housing, and a door member slidably attached to the base for selectively enclosing the washing tub. The base includes at least one rail, a carrier slidably disposed on the rail for supporting the door member.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a washing machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal cross sectional view of the washing machine;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the washing machine taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating the detachable washing tub of the washing machine;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the detachable washing tub of the washing machine;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating the supporting posts or columns of the washing machine; and

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view illustrating the detaching or disassembling operation of the detachable washing tub of the washing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing machine 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a supporting table or base 10, a water reservoir or container 11 disposed on the base 10 for receiving or container water therein and for supplying the water to conduct or to carry out the laundry washing operation, and an outer tub or housing 20 disposed or supported on the base 10 and including one or more hoses 21 coupled to the water reservoir or container 11 for receiving the water from the water reservoir or container 11 and thus for selectively supplying the water into the water reservoir or container 11.

A motor 22 is disposed or supported on the base 10 or attached to the housing 20, such as attached to the rear portion of the housing 20, and includes a spindle 23 extended into the housing 20 for coupling to a detachable washing tub 30 and for actuating or operating or rotating the washing tub 30 to rotate relative to the housing 20 and to conduct the laundry washing operation. For example, a securing member or frame 24, such as a cross-shaped securing member or frame 24 may be attached or secured to the spindle 23 of the motor 22 for securing to the washing tub 30 with such as fasteners 8 or the like, for allowing the washing tub 30 to be rotated or driven or operated by the motor 22 in order to conduct the laundry washing operation. The motor 22 may thus be used or acted as a rotating or driving means or device for rotating or driving or operating the washing tub 30 relative to the outer housing 20.

The washing machine 1 may further include a pivotal door member or a door member 25 for selectively enclosing the washing tub 30. For example, the door member 25 is disposed or supported on a carrier 26 which is slidably attached to the base 10, such as slidably attached to one or more tracks or rails 27 of the base 10 for slidably moving the door member 25 toward and away from the washing tub 30, and thus for selectively enclosing or opening the washing tub 30. The attachment of the door member 25 to the washing tub 30 is not related to the present invention and will not be described in further details.

The detachable washing tub 30 includes a bottom or rear plate 31 secured or attached to the securing member or frame 24 with such as the fasteners 8 or the like, two or more columns or posts 32 each having one end or rear end 33 attached or secured to the rear plate 31 with such as the fasteners 80 or the like. For example, the columns or posts 32 each include one or more screw holes 34 (FIG. 6) formed in each of the end portions thereof for receiving or threading with the fasteners 80 and for securing the columns or posts 32 to the rear plate 31. The columns or posts 32 are preferably disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the rear plate 31 and equally spaced from each other, and each include a longitudinal groove 35 formed in each of the side portions 36 thereof (FIGS. 3-4 and 6).

The detachable washing tub 30 further includes two or more curved wall members 37 each having two side edges 38 for engaging into the longitudinal grooves 35 of the columns or posts 32 and thus for anchoring or stably retaining the curved wall members 37 between the posts 32, the curved wall members 37 each include one end or rear portion 40 engaged with the bottom or rear plate 31 (FIGS. 1-2 and 4), and arranged for forming a cylindrical configuration for the washing tub 30 and for receiving the laundry in the washing tub 30, and each include a number of perforations 39 formed therein for water circulation purposes, or for allowing the water to flow into and out of the washing tub 30.

An annular cap 41 is further provided and engaged onto the other end or front portion 42 of the curved wall members 37 and secured to the other end or front portion 43 of the columns or posts 32 with such as the fasteners 88 or the like, the annular cap 41 may thus be engaged with the other end or front portion 42 of the curved wall members 37 for stably and solidly securing or retaining the curved wall members 37 between the annular cap 41 and the rear plate 31, and thus for detachably securing the curved wall members 37 to the rear plate 31.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 7, when the washing tub 30 is damaged and required to be changed with the new ones or required to be fixed or repaired, the annular cap 41 may first be disengaged or detached or disassembled from the columns or posts 32 for allowing the curved wall members 37 to be disengaged or detached or disassembled from the rear plate 31 and the columns or posts 32, and thus for allowing the curved wall members 37 to be changed with the new ones or to be fixed or repaired, without discarding the whole washing machine.

Accordingly, the washing machine in accordance with the present invention includes a detachable washing tub which may be disassembled or disengaged from the washing machine and which may be changed with the new ones or which may be fixed or repaired without discarding the whole washing machine when only the washing tub is damaged.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a housing, a washing tub rotatably received in said housing, and means for rotating said washing tub relative to said housing to conduct a laundry washing operation, and said washing tub including a rear plate, at least two posts secured to said rear plate, at least two wall members engaged between said at least two posts for forming a cylindrical configuration for said washing tub, and an annular cap secured to said at least two posts and engaged with said at least two wall members for detachably securing said at least two wall members to said rear plate and said at least two posts.
 2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two posts each include a groove formed in each of two side portions thereof, and said at least two wall members each include two side edges for engaging into said grooves of said at least two posts.
 3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotating means includes a motor attached to said housing, and having a spindle for securing to said washing tub.
 4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said motor includes a frame attached to said spindle for securing to said washing tub.
 5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said frame is a cross-shaped securing frame.
 6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a base is provided for supporting said housing, and a door member slidably attached to said base for selectively enclosing said washing tub.
 7. The washing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said base includes at least one rail, a carrier slidably disposed on said at least one rail for supporting said door member. 